Cheapest Apparel and Textiles Colleges in California

California State University-Fresno offers the state's most affordable Apparel and Textiles education at just $6,480 net cost, while private institutions like FIDM charge over $41,000. This dramatic price difference matters in California's $3.5 trillion economy, where fashion companies from Levi Strauss to Sketchers create steady demand for textile professionals. Seven programs across the state produce graduates earning between $33,993 and $41,565 annually.

Programs

$6,480 – $41,493

Net Price Range

$38,775

Avg. Program Earnings

60.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

7 Apparel and Textiles Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
2	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$10,512	$7,602	55.8%	93.2%
3	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
4	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
5	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
6	Academy of Art University San Francisco, California	$39,778	$28,024	40.5%
7	FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles, California	$41,493	$34,325	67.2%	41.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost difference between public and private textile programs?

Public California State Universities charge between $6,480 and $15,288 net cost, while private institutions like FIDM and Academy of Art University cost $39,778 to $41,493. The Cal Grant program helps qualifying students at public schools, making CSU campuses particularly affordable for California residents.

How do graduation rates compare across different price points?

UC Davis leads with an 85.1% graduation rate despite charging $15,288, while the most expensive option, FIDM, graduates 67.2% of students. Surprisingly, the cheapest program at CSU-Fresno maintains a respectable 54.8% graduation rate at one-sixth the cost of private alternatives.

Where do California textile graduates earn the highest starting salaries?

UC Davis graduates earn $41,565 annually, followed closely by San Francisco State at $40,768, both located in major metropolitan areas. Cal Poly Pomona graduates start at $33,993, though they carry significantly less debt at $11,600 compared to other programs.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.